Long recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, Taiwan is a remarkable ecotourism destination that straddles the Tropic of Cancer. Between June and September, the country’s lowland landscapes swelter. In winter, by contrast, its rugged uplands receive dustings of snow. Between these two extremes, there are a dozen different environments, and each has distinct fauna and flora. …
Taiwan has resumed warmly welcoming overseas visitors, and Taiwanese are once again enjoying overseas vacations. The country’s airports and hotels are bustling. Attractions like Ximending and Taipei 101 are reporting a steady flow of foreign tourists. Another sign that the travel and hospitality industries have finally put the pandemic behind them is the anticipation surrounding…
If the world’s cycling enthusiasts pooled their ideas and designed a country that is ideal for bicycle vacations, they would likely come up with a place remarkably similar to Taiwan. Taiwan is 394 km long and 144 km across at its widest, so end-to-end or around-the-island rides can be accomplished within a vacation of normal…
When you think of jazz, Taipei and its riverside neighborhood of Dadaocheng might not immediately come to mind. But the music genre that came out of African American communities in New Orleans and the trading port’s heyday in the 19th and early 20th centuries were contemporaries. The district, which is one of Taipei’s most vibrant…
Taiwan-based academic Ian Rowen’s new book explores the complex nature of leisure travel between Taiwan and China that proliferated during the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou. It also provides insight into how this development has contributed to and shaped notions of Taiwan’s territorial status. For the first three years of my life in Taiwan, visiting…
Sun Moon Lake is a symbol of both Taiwan’s transformation into a modern industrial economy and its emergence as a favored destination for international travelers. The lake’s romantic English name is a direct translation from the Chinese, Riyuetan, which itself describes the shape of this 8 km2 body of water. The eastern part is round…
Although it once punched above its weight in esports, Taiwan is now falling behind countries like South Korea and Singapore. How can Taiwan leverage its strengths to put itself back on the map? BY HENRY LAN I started playing League of Legends (LoL) 10 years ago while attending middle school in Australia. It was already…
Home to a vast assortment of Taiwan’s flora and fauna, numerous wetland conservation areas around the island are waiting to be discovered. STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN CROOK Wetlands cover no more than 1.6% of Taiwan’s land area, and many are located in unappealing coastal districts. Yet they make a massive contribution to the island’s…
Daniel Rios is one of the few foreign nationals to have completed the baiyue – a list of mountains in Taiwan that many hikers dream of summitting. PHOTOS BY DANIEL RIOS A sea of clouds – or yunhai (雲海) – is the striking phenomenon of a uniform cloud layer viewed from above, resembling a contoured ocean…
From his transformation as a disillusioned graphic designer to a passionate tattooist, Sean Wei’s focus lies in leaving a legacy on the skin of those who entrust their bodies to him, crafting pieces that personify their stories, memories, and emotions. As you walk into Sean Wei’s tattoo studio – which is also his home –…
